Forest fires, droughts and diminishing mountain snowpacks are among the topics set for discussion Wednesday during a community forum at Cook Memorial Library hosted by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby Oregon Stewardship Tour.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., “Protecting Oregon’s Climate with Market-Based Solutions” will be led by National Park Service ranger Brian Ettling, who has been a ranger for 25 years and is currently working at Crater Lake National Park. Ettling said he has experienced the impact of climate change firsthand and has been a volunteer for Citizens’ Climate Lobby since 2012.

“These meetings provide CCL an important opportunity not only to share real-world solutions to the impacts of climate change,” Ettling said in a press release, “but also to listen to the personal stories and concerns from the residents of these communities in Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon.”

This is CCL’s first tour through Oregon. It has six active chapters across the state — one based in Central Oregon and five in Western Oregon — and potential chapters in Eugene, Astoria and Oregon City.

Climate change contributes to natural disasters and extreme weather, which causes economic harm, according to CCL. The aim of the Stewardship Tour is to gather personal stories from Oregonians who have been impacted by forest fires, droughts, diminishing mountain snowpack and other effects of climate change.

“As part of the tour we are trying to network and find partners that view (climate change) with a similar lens,” said Jason Lewis, a management consultant who has been a CCL volunteer since 2013. “We hope to find folks who would like to volunteer and establish new chapters at a grassroots level.”

Lewis explained that CCL’s aim is to connect with communities during its discussions and presentations in order to gather stories from residents and business owners who have been impacted by climate change. The group then plans to take that information to Rep. Greg Walden and Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley.

“We want to build a consensus, find an issue that is impacting all of us and then come to a common ground (solution),” Lewis said.

See complete story in Monday’s Observer